Plural oscillator phase continuous frequency encoder

ABSTRACT

A frequency modulation oscillator is provided having three or more output frequencies corresponding to three or more possible input signals, the output frequency being a phase continuous frequency modulated signal with no discontinuities. For each desired output frequency, there is an input amplifier, responsive to an input binary signal, the output of that amplifier being summed with the outputs of the other amplifiers. For each input amplifier there is an active feedback network containing a delay element which will produce oscillation in the associated amplifier, the active feedback network from each amplifier being isolated from the other amplifiers and feedback networks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a multilevel frequency modulation encoderwhich may form the modulator or transmitter portion of a modem(modulator-demodulator). Such an encoder may be used to transmit binarydata on a data link at a predetermined frequency. While two leveldevices of this general type are known, this disclosure relates to threeor more level encoding.

The type of device covered in this disclosure also has other technicaldescriptions which may be applicable. Sometimes these devices may beknown as phase continuous oscillators, making reference to the fact thatthere is no discontinuity in the oscillator output when shifting fromone frequency to another. A device of this type may also be known as aself-synchronizing oscillator, making reference to the fact that noexternal source of frequency is required to produce the desired signaloutput. And finally, the subject of the disclosure may also be referredto as a parallel network oscillator in that there are as many frequencydetermining elements in the oscillator as there are desired outputfrequencies and that the frequency determining elements are arranged insomewhat parallel electrical configuration.

To further define the scope of this disclosure, devices of the typedescribed herein may be used as data transmission elements according toa substantial number of different encoding schemes. The method or schemeof encoding binary signals to produce a three frequency output is notmaterial to the subject matter of this disclosure. The literature onthis subject is replete with different ternary alphabets and theadvocates for each stress the advantages with respect to differingcriteria for error-free data transmission. It is sufficient to say thatthere is at least one acceptable method of transmitting binary datausing a three frequency modulated carrier, that method being areturn-to-zero modulation scheme in which the center frequency indicatesthe absence of data transmission, but represents a clock signal, thehigher frequency indicates a binary zero or one and the lower frequencyindicates the opposite condition from the higher frequency. Thisparticular method of encoding provides clock timing pulses for thereceiving unit together with the data information and provides certainadvantages in a network system where a plurality of terminals may becommunicating with a single or with multiple computers. Naturally, thereare extensive possibilities for different encoding alphabets when morethan three frequencies are available for modulation.

One appropriate use of a device according to the disclosure herein wouldbe for encoding data for transmission on a cable television system ofthe type commonly found today in metropolitan and even rural areas. Sucha device could make use of the fact that the cable television channelspresently in use in cable television systems leave an unoccupiedfrequency spectrum in each television channel. The unused bandwidth in aparticular television channel may be as much as several megahertz.Alternatively, extra channels are available for various purposes, andcertain channels could be dedicated to data transmission. Thus, a systemaccording to the Disclosure herein may be designed to have, for example,a center frequency of 68 megahertz, a lower frequency of 64 megahertz,and an upper frequency of 72 megahertz.

It goes without saying, that the needs of our modern society willrequire greater and greater utilization of data processing andtransmission equipment. Naturally, a significant requirement of suchequipment will be the minimum expenditure of capital to establish areliable and effective method of communication of data. In many citiesin the United States, and in other places as well, cable televisionsystems are being established for the principal purpose of relayingtelevision signals through high frequency cable transmission systems toindividual subscribers. One requirement of almost all such systems hasbeen the availability to subscribers of the means for insertingsubscriber signals into the systems which may be received by othersubscribers. While this principal purpose has been related to thecommunication of television pictures, together with an audio signal,data transmission within such a system between subscribers is alsopossible where the data transmission equipment is compatible with thecharacteristics of the television channel and with limits and thetransmission capabilities of the existing cable system.

Among the factors and requirements of such a system are that time delaysand distortions may occur in transmitted data, therefore makingdesirable a method of data transmission which contains its own internaltiming signals. Another requirement of the cable transmission system isa comparatively narrow, or at least confined, bandwidth for transmitteddata. Thus, there is imposed a requirement, known to those familiar withcommunications theory, that the transmitted data signals have no sharpdiscontinuities or breaks of the type which require a comparatively highbandwidth for transmission. Thus, any transmission into a cable systemof the type described would require phase continuous modulation wherethe transitions from one frequency to another are smooth, both in theliteral sense referring to the image which would be displayed on anoscilloscope display of the data transmission and in the sense ofcommunications theory with respect to the bandwidth required to transmitsuch a signal.

Included in the relevant prior art in this area is the following articlewhich is known to applicant:

Article entitled "Parallel-Network Oscillators", by J. L. Stewart,Proceedings I.R.E., Vol. 43, No. 5, pages 589-595, May 1955.

Applicant is also aware of the following U.S. Patents which showdevelopments in the general field of the present invention but which arebelieved not to anticipate the present invention: U.S. Pat. Nos.3,852,681; 3,564,448; 3,458,835 and 3,411,107. These patents describedevices which have a common output and are driven by a collection ofgating circuits and delay lines. A somewhat similar circuit to a circuitembodying the present invention is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,411,107which uses monostable oscillators and electrically selected delay linesto generate several output frequencies. The circuit is similar to acircuit embodying the present invention in that it gates multiple delaypaths to a common output. The patent, however, shows tapped delay linesand pulse generators not similar to the present invention. Furthermore,the present invention involves an oscillator producing a plurality ofdifferent frequencies in response to control signals and does notincorporate the concept of the majority decision circuit shown in thesubject Patent. Of all of the above referenced prior art, the I.R.E.article is believed to be the most relevant. That article, however, indiscussing two oscillator networks clearly states that while threeoscillator networks are possible, their development does not appearpractical. The subject article contains substantial theory but does notshow the added features of active isolated feedback amplification of thepresent invention, which features are shown both in the system diagramand in the actual circuit schematics of the embodiment described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is illustrated in an embodiment where threedifferent frequencies may be selectively produced from a multilevelfrequency modulation encoder. However, the principles of the presentinvention allow for additional frequencies to be produced from anencoder having additional circuits of the type incorporated in the threelevel encoder. The encoder, according to the present invention, has abinary, on-off, input signal for each desired frequency output. Eachinput signal controls an input amplifier, the output of which is summedwith the other input amplifiers. This summation may occur by a simpleinterconnection of the outputs of the individual amplifiers or variousisolation techniques may be used. The signal at the summation representsthe output signal of the oscillator.

From this summation signal, there is an active feedback network which isisolated from the summed signal for each of the input amplifiers. Thefeedback network contains a delay element such that the input amplifiertogether with its feedback network form an oscillator at a predeterminedfrequency. The operation of the various input amplifiers and feedbacknetworks is such that when one amplifier is gradually turned off andanother amplifier gradually turned on, the frequency shifts graduallyfrom the frequency of the first amplifier feedback combination to thatof the second amplifier feedback combination. The feedback networksassociated with each amplifier are active and contain an amplifier whichis on at all times. Thus, as one of the input amplifiers is graduallybeing turned on and another is gradually being turned off, the effectiveoscillation frequency of the oscillator is determined by a combinationof the delay elements in the associated amplifiers.

In the embodiment of the invention shown herein, the input amplifiersconsist of common emitter differential amplifiers which are turned on oroff by a transistor switch which has its collector coupled to theemitters of the associated differential amplifier transistors. Thecollectors of one of the pairs of transistors forming all of thedifferential amplifiers are connected together and constitute an outputof the oscillator circuit which is emitter coupled to an outputtransistor amplifier. The collectors of all of the other of thetransistors in the transistor pairs comprising the differentialamplifiers are connected together in a summation configuration andemitter coupled to the individual transistors comprising the feedbackamplifiers in the feedback network associated with each of thedifferential amplifiers. The transistors in the feedback amplifiersoperate in common base mode. The feedback path consists of capacitiveand inductive elements connected between the collectors of the feedbackamplifier transistors and the base of one of the transistors comprisingthe pair of transistors forming the differential amplifier associatedwith each of the frequency producing elements in the encoder accordingto the present invention.

Also shown, is an appropriate signal source for the encoder according tothe present invention which will form conventional clock and binary datasignals into the pulses of an appropriate shape to smoothly cause theencoder according to the present invention to shift among the variouspossible frequencies.

IN THE FIGURES:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system function of a frequencymodulation encoder according to the present invention.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are a schematic diagram of a circuit according to thepresent invention having three output frequencies designed to be placedtogether with FIG. 2A to the left of FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 is a signal source for controlling the encoder shown in FIG. 2based on a conventional binary data input.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, a system diagram, a three level encoder 10according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown. Theencoder includes a summation and active feedback network 11, showninside dotted lines. This three level encoder receives binary inputsignals on input lines 12, 14 and 16. These binary control lines arebinary in the sense that they either have a signal present or there isno signal. The three input lines, 12, 14 and 16, are each associatedwith an amplifier 18, 20 and 22, respectively. These input lines areused to control the respective amplifier so that it will either be in anactive on state or in an inactive off state. This control may functionby simply turning on and off the power supply to the amplifier, forexample, or by enabling and disabling the input to the amplifier. Theamplifiers each have an output signal line 24, 26 and 28, respectively,all of which are connected to a summation device 30. The summationdevice provides a signal on an output line 32 which is the output signalof the encoder according to this embodiment of the invention.

Also connected to the output of summation device 30 is an amplifier 34associated with amplifier 18, an amplifier 36 associated with amplifier20 and an amplifier 38 associated with amplifier 22. Amplifier 34 hasits output connected through a delay device 40 to an input of amplifier18, amplifier 36 has its output connected through a delay device 42 tothe input of amplifier 20 and amplifier 38 has its output connectedthrough a delay device 44 to the input of amplifier 22. Amplifiers 34,36 and 38 are on at all times the circuit is in operation. At a timewhen one of the input amplifiers is activated by an input signal, theamplifier plus its active feedback network consisting of one of thefeedback amplifiers 34, 36, or 38 and the associated delay device forman oscillator. The active feedback amplifiers associated with the otherinactive input amplifiers serve as isolation devices to prevent theother delay elements associated with the inactive input amplifiers fromhaving any effect on output oscillations which are produced by thecombination of the input amplifier and the associated delay device.Thus, by proper selection of the elements forming the tuned circuit ofeach delay device three different primary oscillation frequencies may beestablished. In a way to be described in connection with specificcircuit diagrams shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 3, the input signals arecaused to smoothly change from the on condition to the off condition andvice versa so that the output signal on output 32 smoothly transformsfrom one primary frequency to the another primary frequency as inputvoltages undergo a smooth transition. It may be shown, although theproof is not relevant to this patent application, that when at least twoof the primary amplifiers are in a partially activated or transitioncondition, the output oscillations will occur at a single frequencybetween the primary frequencies associated with the respective circuits.It is to be noted that this partially on condition represented by thesmooth transition from an on state to an off state, and vice versa, foreach of the primary oscillators of this circuit is to be present only asmall fraction of the total operating time of the circuit in the datatransmission function.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a transistor circuit is shownaccording to an embodiment of an invention having three primaryfrequencies and a system function generally as shown in FIG. 1. Thesystem may have, for example, specific components so that the centerfrequency would be sixty-eight megahertz, with four megahertz separationbetween the upper and lower frequencies. Accordingly, the three inputcontrol signals 12, 14 and 16 are shown as being presented to the baseof switching transistors 50, 52 and 54, respectively. The bases of theseswitching transistors are shown with an appropriate bias network whichwould include an appropriate supply voltage. The collectors of thesethree switching transistors are connected to the emitters of a pair ofassociated transistors operating as a differential amplifier. Associatedwith switching transistor 50 are differential amplifier transistors 56and 58, with switching transistor 52 are associated differentialamplifier transistors 60 and 62 and with switching transistor 54 areassociated differential amplifier transistors 64 and 66. The outputs ofthese amplifiers are electrically isolated and of opposite phase.Transistors 56 and 58 constitute input amplifier 18 shown in the systemdiagram of FIG. 1, and similarly transistors 60 and 62 constituteamplifier 20 and transistors 64 and 66 constitute amplifier 22. Thecollectors of transistors 58, 62 and 66 are connected together so thattheir output signals are summed. These signals are summed on an outputbus 68 which is emitter coupled to an output amplifier transistor 70.The output of the circuit is taken from the collector of transistor 70on an output bus 72. In practice, a harmonic isolation and suppressionfilter and amplifier circuit such as shown in FIG. 2B would be used forthe final output, but further description is not believed necessaryhere. Transistor 70 operates as a common base amplifier with its baseconnected to a regulated voltage determined by a zener diode 74. Currentto the zener diode is provided by a resistor 76. A capacitor 78 having acapacitance large with respect to the signals being handled is connectedacross the zener diode so that with respect to the signal frequenciesthe base of transistor 70 is a common base connection.

The summation and active feedback network 11 is shown generally insidedashed lines. Transistor 80 represents a common base, emitter coupledamplifier forming the active element in the feedback network associatedwith amplifier 18. Similarly, transistors 82 and 84 represent commonbase, emitter coupled amplifiers forming the active elements in thefeedback networks for amplifiers 20 and 22, respectively. In thisembodiment of the invention, the bases of transistors 80, 82 and 84 areconnected to the same reference voltage source as the base of transistor70 for convenience, but separate sources may be provided. This referencesource comprised of zener diode 74 and resistor 76 provides theappropriate direct current bias voltage for these transistors whilecapacitor 78 connects signal frequencies to ground in order to implementthe common base configuration of the amplifiers. The collectors oftransistors 56, 60 and 64 are connected together so that their outputsignals are summed. This summed signal provides the emitter input fortransistors 80, 82 and 84. Although this signal is out of phase with thesystem output, it is still a summed output from the differentialamplifiers and has the further advantage of providing additional signalisolation and stability within the circuit over other possibleconfigurations.

Associated with amplifier 18 and feedback amplifier transistor 80 are acoil 86 and a capacitor 88 forming the feedback network delay element.Capacitor 88 is connected between the collector of transistor 80 and thebase of transistor 58. Capacitor 88, together with coil 86 and variablecapacitor 90, form a conventional resonant circuit which according tostandard network theory is a delay element associated with an amplifierto make the combination thereof resonant. Similarly, capacitor 92connects the collector of transistor 82 to the base of transistor 62 andtogether with coil 94 and variable capacitor 96 form the resonantcircuit associated with amplifier 20. Similarly, capacitor 98 connectsthe collector of transistor 84 with the base of transistor 66 andtogether with coil 100 and variable capacitor 102 form the resonantcircuit associated with amplifier 22. A regulated current source 104provides current to the emitters of transistors 50, 52 and 54. Theregulated current source insures that the amplifier gain will beconstant and insures frequency stability of the circuit. Since theencoder according to the present invention may be used in data terminalsas an encoder in an environment where the unit must be activated, orturned on rapidly and in a stable fashion in order to respond to acomand from a master unit, transistor 106 is provided to create a drainon the current source when the unit is in the non-transmitting mode andnone of transistors 50, 52 and 54 are activated. When the unit is turnedon by the activation of one of transistors 50, 52 and 54 together withthe turning off of transistor 106, the current source 104 willexperience a relatively constant current drain and thus will not createany instability in the output signal of the encoder.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a suitable circuit is shown for driving encoder10 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Signals appearing at outputs 12, 14 and 16correspond to properly shaped binary signals for turning on and off thelow, middle and high frequencies, respectively, of encoder 10 andcorrespond to inputs 12, 14 and 16 on FIGS. 2A and 2B. Input 150, inFIG. 3, corresponds to a periodic clock signal which may be providedcontinuously. Input 152 is for the transmit-receive control signal andis equivalent to an on-off signal for turning the encoder on and off.Input 154 is for conventional binary data signals. OR gates 156, 158,160 and 162, with the NOT outputs thereof designated by the small circlesymbol, provide the necessary logic function to convert the conventionalclock and binary data signals to a combined three logic and clocksignal. Transistors 164, 166, 168 and 170 receive the logic outputs fromOR gates 156, 158, 160 and 162 and drive outputs 12, 14 and 16.Capacitors 172, 174 and 176 shape the output pulses from the associatedtransistors to provide a smooth transition from one output frequency toanother of encoder 10. Output 178 drives transistor 106, shown in FIG.2B, associated with an off condition of encoder 10 to provide a steadydrain on regulated current source 104. That is, when encoder 10 is to beoff, output 178 provides a signal to turn transistor 106 on. When theencoder 10 is to produce an output signal, one of the outputs 12, 14 or16 will be on. Capacitors 172, 174 and 176 may have a value of 270picofarads, for example, to provide the desired pulse shapingcharacteristics in a resistive capacitive network configuration. Thebias network of transistors 50, 52 and 54 will have an input impedanceof approximately a few hundred ohms to fully determine the frequencyresponse characteristics of the circuit, thereby determining pulseshapes for driving the encoder. The logic elements, together with thedrive transistors, create a combination which will cause one oscillatorto be smoothly turned off and essentially simultaneously cause anotheroscillator to be smoothly turned on so that a smooth and continuousshift from one primary frequency to another will occur. Essentiallysimultaneously as used here does not mean exactly simultaneously, butmeans "at the same time within limits of tolerance to make the circuitfunction as intended."

What is claimed is:
 1. A frequency modulation oscillator for encodingdata having at least three primary frequencies and comprisingat leastthree input amplifiers, switch means associated with each of said inputamplifiers for activating said associated amplifier in response to aninput control signal, a plurality of feedback amplifiers, one of saidfeedback amplifiers being associated with each of said input amplifiersand having an output, the inputs of all of said feedback amplifiersbeing connected in common to an input signal comprised of the electricalsummation of signals from each of said input amplifiers, a plurality offeedback means, one feedback means being connected between the output ofeach feedback amplifier and an input of the associated input amplifierand having an electrical characteristic such that said input amplifieracts as an oscillator at a predetermined primary frequency whenactivated, the output of said frequency modulation oscillator beingcomprised of a signal which is the electrical sum of output signals fromall of said input amplifiers and having the characteristic of being anoscillating signal at the primary frequency of an activated inputamplifier when only one of said amplifiers is activated and having thefurther characteristic of consisting of a continuous frequencyoscillating signal shifting from a first primary frequency to a secondprimary frequency when a first input amplifier is smoothly deactivatedas a second input amplifier is essentially simultaneously smoothlyactivated.
 2. The oscillator of claim 1 and further comprising means forsupplying data signals which have a smooth signal characteristic to allof said switch means.
 3. The oscillator of claim 1 comprised of onlythree input amplifiers.
 4. A data encoder comprising:at least threeoscillators, each oscillator responsive to an input control signal toproduce an output signal and each oscillator having a different primaryfrequency, each of said oscillators including a feedback means and afeedback amplifier, each feedback amplifier having as an input a signalcomprising the electrical sum of the outputs of all of said oscillators,said input being electrically isolated from the output of said feedbackamplifier, the output of said feedback amplifier being connected throughsaid feedback means to the associated oscillator, and, means forelectrically summing the output signals of all of said oscillators toproduce an output signal for said encoder.
 5. The encoder of claim 4 andfurther comprising a plurality of means for activating and deactivatingoscillators, one of said means being associated with each of saidoscillators to provide an input signal, said input signal beingessentially either an on signal or an off signal, and said input signalshaving the further characteristic of switching smoothly from on to offand off to on so that when a first oscillator is operating at a firstprimary frequency and is smoothly deactivated while essentiallysimultaneously a second oscillator is smoothly activated to a secondprimary frequency the output signal of said encoder will consist of acontinuous frequency oscillating signal smoothly shifting from saidfirst frequency to said second frequency.
 6. The encoder of claim 5consisting of only three oscillators.